JP2008252388A - Navigation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform guidance for locating mobile communication equipment by using distances from two base stations to specify the location of the mobile communication equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A response signal analyzing part 13 receives a response signal to a query signal output by a query signal transmitting part 11 to detect a cellular phone and calculates a distance to the cellular phone detected by the receiving strength of the response signal. An inter-base station communication part 15 receives, from the fixed base station, the location of a fixed base station and a distance from the fixed base station to the cellular phone. A location estimating part 17 uses the distances from the fixed base station and a mobile base station 10 to the cellular phone to estimate the location of the cellular phone. A navigation picture to the estimated location is displayed in a display device 130. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for searching for a mobile communication device using a distance calculated from the received intensity of a signal received by the base station of the mobile communication device from the mobile communication device, and in particular, two base stations. The present invention relates to a technique for performing navigation for searching for a mobile communication device using a distance from a mobile phone.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for identifying the position of a mobile phone using a signal received by a base station of the mobile phone using a signal transmitted from a mobile phone, which is a typical example of a mobile communication device, is known. For example, in the technique of Patent Document 1, first, base stations at three points receive a signal transmitted from the same mobile phone, and based on the reception strength of the signal, each base station that received the signal and the mobile phone Calculate the distance. Then, the intersection point when a circle having a radius of each distance from the three points where the base station is located is specified as the position where the mobile phone is present.
JP 7-38951 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the position of the mobile phone cannot be specified unless the distances from the three base stations are always known.

  Even if the distances from the three base stations are known, when the circles with the radius of each distance are drawn around the three base stations, the circles do not intersect at one point. When it is not possible to determine the position of the mobile phone. This may occur when the strength of the signal received by the base station is weakened due to the presence of an obstacle.

  In particular, when a location of a mobile phone is specified in order to search for a victim who has been buried in debris when a large-scale disaster occurs, this is a big problem. That is, when a disaster occurs, it is expected that the signal received by the base station will be weaker than the actual distance due to the collapse of the building.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to specify the position of a mobile communication device using the distance from two base stations and perform guidance for searching for the mobile communication device.

  A navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first base station and a second base station, and guides to a position of a mobile communication device. The first base station outputs an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device, and receives a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device that has responded to the inquiry signal. Means for detecting a device, means for calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal, position data indicating a position of the first base station, and the first First base station including identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the base station and distance data indicating a distance from the first base station to the mobile communication device detected by the first base station Means for outputting information. The second base station outputs an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device, and receives a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device that responds to the inquiry signal. Means for detecting a device; means for calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal; means for specifying the position of the second base station; Means for receiving the first base station information from the base station of the target mobile communication device that is one of the mobile communication devices detected by both the first and second base stations. Based on the distance from the first base station and the distance from the second base station, and the position of the first base station and the position of the second base station, the second base station Means for estimating a relative position of the target mobile communication device; Based on the relative position of the estimated the target mobile communication device by said estimating means, and a navigation means for guiding the position of the target mobile communication device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the navigation means includes a display device, and the display device includes at least the second base station and the target mobile communication device according to the estimated relative position of the target mobile communication device. A display including a map including the response signal reception strength of the target mobile communication device on the display device, the display indicating the reception strength is the response signal reception strength of the target mobile communication device It may be made to fluctuate accordingly.

  A portable base station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention outputs an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication apparatus, and receives a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication apparatus responding to the inquiry signal. A means for detecting the mobile communication device, a distance calculation means for calculating the distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal, a means for specifying its own position, Position data indicating the position of the detection device from other detection devices, identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the detection device, and a distance from the detection device to the mobile communication device detected by the detection device And a distance from the detection device and a distance from the target mobile communication device which is one of the mobile communication devices detected by both the self and the detection device. A means for estimating a relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to itself based on the position of the mobile terminal and the position of the detection device; Navigation means for guiding to the position of the target mobile communication device based on the relative position.

  Hereinafter, a mobile communication device search system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example in which a search target of a search system is a mobile phone that is a representative example of a mobile communication device will be described, but the present invention can also be applied to a search for a mobile communication device other than a mobile phone. Furthermore, the mobile communication device search system according to the present embodiment can be used for the purpose of searching for a mobile phone carried by a victim when a disaster occurs and for rescue of the victim.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a mobile phone search system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, this system includes at least two base stations 10 and 30, and each base station 10 and 30 communicates with mobile phones in its own cells 1 and 3, respectively. In addition, in this system, two base stations 10 and 30 can communicate with each other. The two base stations 10 and 30 can communicate by any communication method, and may communicate via a relay device, for example.

  Here, the base station 10 is a portable mobile base station that can be carried, and the base station 30 is a fixed base station that is fixed to the ground. The base station 30 may be a mobile base station. Further, in FIG. 1, the case where there is one mobile base station 10 and one fixed base station 30 is illustrated, but there may be a plurality of mobile base stations 10 and fixed base stations 30.

  In FIG. 1, there is an area where cell 1 of mobile base station 10 and cell 3 of fixed base station 30 overlap. And there exist mobile phones 2, 2,... In the area where the cells 1, 3 are formed.

  When the mobile telephones 2, 2,... In the cells 1, 3 receive the inquiry signals from the respective base stations 10, 30, they output response signals. This response signal includes at least identification information of each mobile phone 2, 2,. The mobile telephones 2, 2,... That have received the inquiry signals from both the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30 output a response signal for each inquiry signal in any case.

  Each of the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30 is configured by a computer system including a communication device that communicates with, for example, the mobile phones 2, 2,... Individual components or functions are realized by, for example, executing a computer program.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the mobile base station 10.

  The mobile base station 10 includes a transmission antenna 110 and a reception antenna 120, and performs wireless communication with mobile phones 2, 2,. The mobile base station 10 also includes a display device 130 for a user interface and a GPS antenna 160 that receives a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal.

  The mobile base station 10 further includes an inquiry signal transmission unit 11 that generates an inquiry signal output from the transmission antenna 110, a response signal analysis unit 13 that analyzes the response signal received by the reception antenna 120, and a response signal analysis unit 13 An in-cell terminal information storage unit 140 that stores information based on the analysis result of the above, a GPS processing unit 16 that processes the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna 160 and identifies the current latitude and longitude of the mobile base station 10, An inter-base station communication unit 15 that communicates with the fixed base station 30, a fixed base station information storage unit 150 that stores information transmitted from the fixed base station 30, a mobile phone to be searched (hereinafter referred to as a search target terminal) A search target terminal extraction unit 14 for specifying the search target terminal, a position estimation unit 17 for estimating the position of the search target terminal, and a navigation system for guiding to the position of the search target terminal And a display control unit 18 displays a down screen.

  The inquiry signal transmitter 11 generates an inquiry signal for the mobile phones 2, 2,... Regularly or irregularly. The inquiry signal generated here is output as a radio wave from the transmission antenna 110.

  The receiving antenna 120 receives the radio wave of the response signal output from the mobile phone 2 that has received the inquiry signal. The response signal includes a telephone number as identification information of each mobile phone 2, 2,... (If the information identifies each mobile phone 2, 2,. Needless to say.)

  The response signal analysis unit 13 analyzes the response signal output by each mobile phone 2, 2,... Received by the receiving antenna 120, and generates in-cell terminal information. For example, the response signal analysis unit 13 extracts information included in the response signal to identify each mobile phone 2, 2,..., And from the mobile base station 10 based on the reception strength of the response signal. The distance to each mobile phone 2, 2,... Is calculated. The in-cell terminal information generated here is stored in the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140. That is, as shown in the figure, the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140 includes the telephone numbers 141 of the mobile phones 2, 2,. 2 and... And data signal reception time 143 of the response signal.

  The inter-base station communication unit 15 receives the fixed base station information transmitted from the fixed base station 30 and stores it in the fixed base station information storage unit 150. When there are a plurality of fixed base stations 30, the inter-base station communication unit 15 collects fixed base station information from each fixed base station 30.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the data structure of the fixed base station information storage unit 150. That is, the fixed base station information stored in the fixed base station information storage unit 150 includes the position information (latitude and longitude) 151 of the fixed base station 30 and the mobile phones 2, 2, 2 in the cell 3 of the fixed base station 30. , And the distance 153 from the fixed base station 30 of the mobile phones 2, 2,.

  The search target terminal extraction unit 14 is a search target to be searched from the mobile phones 2, 2,... That are in the cell 1 of the mobile base station 10 and in the cell 3 of the fixed base station 30. Extract one terminal. For example, the search target terminal extraction unit 14 uses the phone numbers 141 and 152 as keys in order from the mobile phone with the shortest distance 142 from the mobile base station in the in-cell terminal information of the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140. One mobile phone whose in-cell terminal information is also stored in the base station information storage unit 150 is extracted as a search target terminal.

  When the search target terminal belongs to each cell 3 of the plurality of fixed base stations 30, in-cell terminal information of the fixed base station 30 having a short distance 153 from the fixed base station is used in the following processing. .

  The position estimation unit 17 estimates the position of the search target terminal extracted by the search target terminal extraction unit 14. For example, the position estimation unit 17 determines the search target terminal based on the relative positional relationship between the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30, the distance 142 from the mobile base station, and the distance 153 from the fixed base station. A relative position with respect to the mobile base station 10 is estimated.

  The position estimation unit 17 estimates the position of the search target terminal T, for example, according to a drawing method as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in the figure, the relative positional relationship between the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30 is determined, and the mobile base station O1 and the fixed base station O2 are plotted, respectively. Then, a circle with a radius r1 corresponding to the distance 142 from the mobile base station is drawn from the mobile base station O1. Similarly, a circle of r2 corresponding to the distance 153 from the fixed base station is drawn with the fixed base station O2 as the center. The intersections A and B of these circles are candidate points where the search target terminal T exists. Therefore, the position estimation unit 17 estimates either one of the candidate points A or B as the position of the search target terminal T.

  Which candidate point the position estimation unit 17 selects is arbitrary. For example, when distance information from a third base station other than the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30 is obtained, this is considered. If the mobile base station 10 can transmit the inquiry signal with directivity, the information may be used.

  In addition, after estimating the intersection A among the candidate points A and B, for example, as the position of the search target terminal T, the position estimation unit 17 switches the position of the search target terminal T to the other candidate point B at the following timing. It may be. For example, if the user moves with the mobile base station 10 toward the estimated position of the search target terminal T according to navigation described later, the distance from the mobile base station 10 to the search target terminal T varies, so that the response signal analysis The response signal strength from the search target terminal T received by the unit 13 also varies. That is, when the mobile base station 10 is approaching the search target terminal T, the reception intensity of the response signal should be strong. However, when moving in the wrong direction, the reception strength of the response signal becomes weak. Therefore, when it is detected that the mobile base station 10 has moved away from the search target terminal T due to movement, the position estimation unit 17 performs the above-described switching.

  The display control unit 18 displays a navigation screen 500 as shown in FIG. The navigation screen 500 displays a map area 510, an intensity meter 520 indicating the reception intensity of a response signal from the search target terminal T, and a forced switching button 530 for the search target terminal.

  In the map area 510, the mobile base station O1 and the fixed base station O2 are displayed according to relative positions determined based on the mutual position information. Further, the map area 510 corresponds to a circle C1 having a radius r1 corresponding to the distance 142 from the mobile base station O1 with the mobile base station O1 as the center and a distance 153 from the fixed base station O2 with the fixed base station O2 as the center. A circle C2 of r2 is drawn. Here, since the search target terminal T is estimated to exist at A among the intersections A and B of the circles C1 and C2, an arrow K for guiding to A is further displayed.

  The intensity meter 520 may be changed in real time according to the reception intensity of the response signal from the search target terminal T. The strength meter 520 is an example of a method for indicating the reception strength of the response signal from the search target terminal T, and may indicate the reception strength of the response signal from the search target terminal T by other methods. For example, the display mode of the navigation screen 500 may be changed such that the display color of any part of the navigation screen 500 changes according to the reception intensity of the response signal from the search target terminal T.

  Thereby, when the user moves the mobile base station 10 in the direction of the arrow K, the user can know the change in the reception strength of the response signal. Therefore, even when the mobile base station 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow K, when the reception strength of the response signal continues to decrease, there is a high possibility that the direction of the arrow K is incorrect. At this time, when the user presses the forced switching button 530 of the search target terminal, the position estimation unit 17 may forcibly perform the search target terminal switching process described above.

  Note that the display control unit 18 may update the map displayed in the map area 510 in real time as the mobile base station 10 moves.

  FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the fixed base station 30. The fixed base station 30 may be a mobile phone position detection device having at least the following functions.

  Similarly to the mobile base station 10, the fixed base station 30 includes a transmission antenna 310 and a reception antenna 320, and performs wireless communication with the mobile phones 2, 2,.

  Furthermore, the fixed base station 30 includes an inquiry signal transmission unit 31 that generates an inquiry signal output from the transmission antenna 310, a response signal analysis unit 33 that analyzes a response signal received by the reception antenna 320, and a response signal analysis unit 33. In-cell terminal information storage unit 340 that stores information based on the analysis result of the above, an inter-base station communication unit 35 that communicates with the mobile base station 10, and a base that stores location information (latitude and longitude) of the fixed base station 30 A station position information storage unit 36.

  The inquiry signal transmission unit 31 and the response signal analysis unit 33 have the same functions as the inquiry signal transmission unit 11 and the response signal analysis unit 13 of the mobile base station 10. Furthermore, the in-cell terminal information storage unit 340 has the same data items as the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140 of the mobile base station 10 and stores information related to the mobile phone in the cell 3 of the fixed base station 30.

  The base station position information storage unit 36 stores the latitude and longitude of the point where the fixed base station 30 is located.

  The inter-base station communication unit 35 includes the location information of the fixed base station 30 stored in the base station location information storage unit 36 and the in-cell 3 for the fixed base station 30 stored in the in-cell terminal information storage unit 340. Terminal information is transmitted to the mobile base station 10.

  The fixed base station 30 may be a portable position detection device similar to the mobile base station 10 as long as it has at least the above-described function.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the mobile phone search system described above. The processing procedure of this system will be described according to this.

  First, in the mobile base station 10, the inquiry signal generated by the inquiry signal transmitter 11 is transmitted from the transmission antenna 110, and the response signals transmitted in response to the cellular phones 2, 2,. Is received by the receiving antenna 120. The response signal analysis unit 13 analyzes the response signal, generates in-cell terminal information of the cell 1, and stores it in the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140.

  Similarly, the fixed base station 30 transmits the inquiry signal generated by the inquiry signal transmitter 31 from the transmission antenna 310, and the mobile phones 2, 2,. The response signal is received by the receiving antenna 320. The response signal analysis unit 33 analyzes the response signal, generates in-cell terminal information of the cell 3, and stores it in the in-cell terminal information storage unit 340 (S11).

  Next, the inter-base station communication unit 35 of the fixed base station 30 sends the in-cell terminal information of the cell 3 and the location information of the fixed base station 30 stored in the in-cell terminal information storage unit 340 to the mobile base station 10. . In the mobile base station 10, the inter-base station communication unit 15 receives this and stores it in the fixed base station information storage unit 150 (S12).

  After that, the mobile base station 10 and the fixed base station 30 intermittently collect in-cell terminal information, and the mobile base station 10 acquires the fixed base station information intermittently.

  The search target terminal extraction unit 14 refers to the in-cell terminal information storage unit 140 and the fixed base station information storage unit 150, and selects the mobile base station 10 from the mobile phone 2 in the area where the cells 1 and 3 overlap. The closest one is extracted as a search target terminal (S13).

  Next, the position estimation unit 17 is based on the relative positional relationship of the fixed base station 30 with respect to the mobile base station 10, the distance 142 from the mobile base station of the search target terminal, and the distance 153 from the fixed base station. One of the candidate points of the two search target terminals is estimated as the position of the search target terminal (S14).

  The display control unit 18 causes the display device 130 to display the navigation screen 500 for moving from the current position of the mobile base station 10 to the estimated position of the search target terminal (S15).

  Thereby, the user who has seen the navigation screen 500 can start moving in order to search for a search target terminal with the mobile base station 10.

  At this time, if the reception intensity of the response signal decreases by a predetermined level or more due to the movement of the mobile base station 10 (S16: Yes), the position estimation unit 17 determines the position of the search target terminal among the two candidate points. Switch to the one not selected in the previous process (S17). And it returns to step S14, the position estimation part 17 estimates the position of a new search object terminal, and performs the process after it.

  On the other hand, even if the mobile base station 10 moves, if the reception intensity of the response signal does not decrease by a predetermined level or more (S16: No), Step S18 and subsequent steps are repeated until the search is completed.

  According to the present embodiment, a mobile phone can be found while receiving navigation by the mobile base station 10. That is, the system according to the present embodiment can be used to rescue a victim who is buried in debris while holding a mobile phone in the event of a large-scale disaster.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a mobile phone search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the mobile base station 10 is shown. An example of the data structure of the terminal information storage part 140 in a cell is shown. An example of the data structure of the fixed base station information storage part 150 is shown. An example of the navigation screen 500 is shown. The structure of the fixed base station 30 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a mobile telephone search.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3 cells 2, 2,... Mobile phone 10 mobile base station 11, 31 inquiry signal transmission unit 13, 33 response signal analysis unit 14 search target terminal extraction unit 15, 35 inter-base station communication unit 16 GPS processing unit 17 Position estimation unit 18 Display control unit 30 Fixed base station 36 Base station position information storage unit 140, 340 In-cell terminal information storage unit 150 Fixed base station information storage unit

Claims (5)

A navigation system comprising a first base station and a second base station for guiding to a position of a mobile communication device,
The first base station is
Means for detecting a mobile communication device by outputting an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device and receiving a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device responding to the inquiry signal;
Means for calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal;
Position data indicating the position of the first base station, identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the first base station, and a mobile body detected by the first base station from the first base station Means for outputting first base station information including distance data indicating a distance to the communication device,
The second base station is
Means for detecting a mobile communication device by outputting an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device and receiving a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device responding to the inquiry signal;
Means for calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal;
Means for identifying the location of the second base station;
Means for receiving the first base station information from the first base station;
The distance from the first base station and the distance from the first base station of the target mobile communication device, which is one of the mobile communication devices detected by both the first and second base stations, Means for estimating a relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to the second base station based on a distance and a position of the first base station and a position of the second base station;
A navigation system comprising: navigation means for guiding to the position of the target mobile communication device based on the relative position of the target mobile communication device estimated by the estimation means.   The navigation means includes a display device, and displays a map including at least the second base station and the target mobile communication device according to the estimated relative position of the target mobile communication device on the display device. The display device displays the response signal reception strength of the target mobile communication device, and the display indicating the reception strength varies depending on the response signal reception strength of the target mobile communication device. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein: Means for detecting a mobile communication device by outputting an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device and receiving a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device responding to the inquiry signal;
Distance calculating means for calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal;
A means of identifying one's position;
Position data indicating the position of the detection device from other detection devices, identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the detection device, and a distance from the detection device to the mobile communication device detected by the detection device Means for obtaining distance data to indicate;
The distance from the target mobile communication device that is one of the mobile communication devices detected by both itself and the detection device, the distance from the detection device, the position of the self, and the position of the detection device And means for estimating the relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to itself,
A portable base station apparatus comprising: navigation means for guiding to a position of the target mobile communication device based on a relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to self estimated by the estimation means. A navigation method for searching a mobile communication device using a portable base station device,
Detecting a mobile communication device by outputting an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device and receiving a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device responding to the inquiry signal;
Calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal;
Identifying the position of the portable base station device;
Position data indicating the position of the detection device from other detection devices, identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the detection device, and a distance from the detection device to the mobile communication device detected by the detection device Obtaining distance data shown;
The distance from the portable base station apparatus and the distance from the portable base station apparatus of the target mobile communication apparatus that is one of the mobile communication apparatuses detected by both the portable base station apparatus and the detection apparatus; Estimating a relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to the portable base station device based on the position of the portable base station device and the position of the detection device;
Navigating to the position of the target mobile communication apparatus based on the estimated relative position of the target mobile communication apparatus with respect to the portable base station apparatus. . A computer program for a portable base station device,
Detecting a mobile communication device by outputting an inquiry signal for searching for a mobile communication device and receiving a response signal including identification information from the mobile communication device responding to the inquiry signal;
Calculating a distance to the detected mobile communication device from the received intensity of the received response signal;
Step means for specifying the position of the portable base station device;
From the detection device of the mobile communication device to the position data indicating the position of the detection device, the identification information of the mobile communication device detected by the detection device, and the mobile communication device detected by the detection device from the detection device Obtaining distance data indicating the distance of
The distance from the portable base station apparatus and the distance from the portable base station apparatus of the target mobile communication apparatus, which is one of the mobile communication apparatuses detected by both the portable base station apparatus and the detection apparatus, Estimating a relative position of the target mobile communication device with respect to the portable base station device based on the position of the portable base station device and the position of the detection device;
A computer program for causing a portable base station apparatus to execute a step of guiding to the position of the target mobile communication apparatus based on the estimated relative position of the target mobile communication apparatus with respect to the portable base station apparatus.

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